Five Indian Army soldiers, all of them belonging to the 4 Parachute Regiment, were killed in action over the last two days along the Line of Control in Keran sector. They had been heli-dropped nearby after an unmanned aerial vehicle detected a trail by infiltrating terrorists.

Operating under heavy snow and bad visibility the unit was able to track down the terrorists but as they neared them snow under their feet gave way leading to three members of the squad falling into a gorge, right where the terrorists had taken shelter.

Coming under heavy fire the soldiers who had fallen into the gorge appear to have put up a brave fight, they were joined by those who had escaped the fall. In the ensuing combat, all the five terrorists were eliminated while three of Para squad were killed by the terrorists. The remaining two members of the army squad were heavily injured and succumbed to injuries after evacuation from the site.

“The soldiers and the terrorist were found barely a few feet away when the other squad reached the position. The para soldiers had put up a strong fight even after stumbling down and the squad members rushed in to help,” sources reportedly ET.

The names and rank of the soldiers who were killed are Subedar Sanjeev Kumar, Havildar Davendra Singh, Paratroopers Bal Krishan, Amit Kumar and Chhatrapal Singh.